Anastasy (Gribanovsky) of Kishinev

Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky) of Kishinev and Khotin (1873-1965) was a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, a prolific writer and theologian, and the second First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

In the world Aleksandr Alekseyevich Gribanovsky, he was born August 6, 1873, in Bratki village, Borisoglebsky district of Tambov province, Russia to Priest Aleksey and his wife Anna (nee Karmazina).

After completing the Tambov Religious School and then the Theological Seminary, he enrolled in the Moscow Theological Academy, then under the rectorship of Archimandrite Anthony (Khrapovitsky), the future Metropolitan and First Hierarch of the ROCOR. After completing the Academy, in April 1898, he was tonsured a monk by Bishop Alexander of Tambov with the name Anastasy for St Anastasy of Sinai. On April 23, 1898, he was ordained hierodeacon, and shortly thereafter hieromonk.